Title
Rojas vs. Quiambao
Case
A.C. No. 13496
Decision Date
Jun 4, 2024
Atty. Merriam Fe G. Rojas filed a disbarment complaint against Atty. Lovejoy Quiambao for multiple acts of grossly immoral conduct, including extramarital affairs and sexual harassment of employees. The Supreme Court found him guilty and imposed disbarment.
A

Case Digest (A.C. No. 11486)

Facts:

  • Parties and Background
    • Complainant Atty. Merriam Fe G. Rojas and respondent Atty. Lovejoy B. Quiambao are spouses, members of the Protestant faith, married on March 20, 2005, before a Baptist Church reverend in Cebu City.
    • They shared a law firm attached to their conjugal home, with no children. Complainant managed the law firm and ran a small store business alongside, supplementing family income.
  • Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Harassment
    • In October 2016, the complainant learned from a house helper, AAA, that respondent sexually harassed her since August 2016, including inappropriate touching, showing pornographic materials, offering teaching on sexual intercourse, and indecent proposals.
    • The respondent admitted to being addicted to pornography, sought psychiatric help but continued to be investigated by complainant.
    • Complainant discovered at least 13 other women, including two minors, who were sexually abused by respondent while employed as helpers, secretaries, or storekeepers.
    • Several former employees executed Judicial Affidavits detailing incidents including forced alcohol consumption leading to rape, repeated sexual advances, and inappropriate display of pornography by respondent.
  • Legal Actions and Court Orders
    • Complainant filed a petition for protection orders which was granted by the RTC Butuan, issuing a Permanent Protection Order (PPO) on February 28, 2017.
    • The PPO directed respondent to seek professional counseling for sex offender treatment.
    • Complainant filed and settled a petition for Legal Separation in RTC Cabadbaran, approved in March 2018.
  • Respondent’s Admissions and Denials
    • Respondent admitted exposure of pornographic materials to certain employees and extramarital sexual relations with at least two women, BBB and CCC, denying forcible acts but affirming consensual relations.
    • He denied allegations from other employees, asserting voluntariness or innocent interactions.
    • Respondent sought leniency and cited psychiatric and spiritual counseling efforts.
    • A motion for reconsideration was filed by respondent after IBP’s recommendation for disbarment, arguing his subsequent marriage to HHH, with whom he had two children.
  • IBP Findings and Supreme Court Proceedings
    • IBP-CBD found respondent guilty of Grossly Immoral Conduct and recommended disbarment.
    • The IBP Board of Governors approved this recommendation.
    • Respondent challenged the penalty based on his marriage to HHH after legal separation but before annulment.
    • The Supreme Court took jurisdiction and evaluated the case under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

Issues:

  • Whether respondent Atty. Lovejoy B. Quiambao should be held administratively liable for grossly immoral conduct for his extramarital affairs, sexual harassment, bigamous marriage, and related acts.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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